Stage-dagger.



J. E. BANNER.

STAGE DAGGER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.21,1911.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

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t 15; i Illll q vitmwaw wmmtoz WWW/m GUM/11mg JOHN EDWARD BANNER, 0F MOUNT AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA.

STAGE-DAGGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 21, 1911.

Patented. Feb. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 603,957.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. BANNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mount Airy, county of Surry, and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stage-Daggers, of which the following is a full and clear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away at the handle portion; Fig. 2 a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a perspective View of the blade det-ached.

The object of this invention is to so construct the weapon that it may be used by the actor in a natural and realistic manner without injury to the actor assaulted, thereby avoiding the detracting effects of the non realistic exhibitions of dagger and stiletto stage assaults as now rendered with the real or stage daggers now in general use on the stage, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

My device in its preferred form consists of a blade a of any suitable length and cross section and provided at its point with a flexible point section Z2, this section 1) consisting of a piece of flexible rubber or other material having the shape of the point of the blade and being sufliciently flexible to bend or turn when it is pressed against the body of the person assaulted with the weapon. At the butt end of the blade it is provided wit-h a cylindrical head or extension 0 having a diameter greater than the blade measuring the same flat-wise and less than the blade measuring the blade from edge to edge, thus forming lateral shoulders cl coincident with the butt end of the blade. This extension 0 works in a central longitudinal passage formed centrally in the handle 6, and the shoulders (Z normally abut against the guard f on the forward end of the handle. The opening in the guard f is of the same shape as the cross section of the blade, and the butt end of the blade normally rests in said opening, a spiral spring 9 located in the hollow handle being employed to normally proj ect the blade to its operative position and to hold the shoulders cl against the inner face of the guard f. The spring 9 is inclosed in the hollow handle and its rear end abuts against a cap 72, screwed removably to the rear end of the handle. Longitudinal grooves 2' are formed at opposite sides of the passage through the handle to receive the longitudinal edges of the blade when the same is pressed back into the handle.

It will be observed that when this weapon is grasped by the handle and the blade is thrust against the body of the actor being assaulted, the spring will yield .and permit the blade to recede back into the handle, and when the weapon is drawn away from the body the spring will instantly return the blade to its projected position and thus give the appearance of being withdrawn from the body of the mimic victim. The flexible tip prevents the initial impact of the blade against the body of the actor from causing even the slightest abrasion. By making the cap at the upper end of the handle removable, it will be observed that the parts may be readily assembled and also taken apart.

It will be observed that the head 0, serves to guide the blade in its reciprocating movements and to hold it in proper position when the blade is projected. It will be understood that the flexible tip of the blade may be silvered or otherwise colored to give it the appearance of being an extension of the metal part of the blade.

It will be obvious that the flexible tip may be attached to the blade in any suitable man ner; I have shown it attached to the blade by forming a tenon 6 upon its butt end and provided with a socket in the end of the blade for the tenon, suitable cement or other means being employed to fasten the tenon in the socket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

A stage weapon of the dagger or stiletto type, consisting of a handle, a blade and means for normally projecting it and allowing it at all times to recede back its full length into the handle, said blade being provided with a flexible and bendable tip or point having normally the shape of a continuation of the blade.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN EDWARD BANNER.

lVitnesses GEO. D. FAwoETT, J. R. MCKINNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

